How'd They Do That?

Remember the awe of wondering how someone accomplished a thing?

Awe

I watched movie special effects progress through the 1990s. Production teams used computer graphics to create effects. The technology was primitive at first. Still neat. Then there were moments that were incredible. "Did they really blow that up?" "Did he really do those acrobatics?" Then there were the obvious moments that were movie magic. "How did they get that T-Rex to shove that jeep off the cliff?"

Awe of humans

We learned over time that these feats were possible through the help of computer technology. The technology itself was impressive. But our awe was magnified because "they" did it. "They" were human geniuses who made this happen. We wanted to see behind the scenes. We wanted to be like them. We wanted to reach for and accomplish similar feats. We were in awe of human achievement.

Hiding our humanity

Generative-AI allows us to hide ourselves. If all we contribute is the typed text to "make me a sandwich", we are obviously so detached from and uncredited for any produced creations. We have contributed so little to it.

We may present an AI-generated creation as "ours". But we are so unimpressive as the "they" behind the creation. When someone experiences our creation, will he care who made it? Will he aspire to become like the creators behind this achievement? Will there be a behind-the-scenes special on our brilliant technique? And, if not, there's really not anything too special happening. There's just utilitarian use of a tool or product. Anyone could have done it. They probably have.

We care about human creation

Likewise, if I know that an AI has generated something, it is immediately less interesting. It might have utility, yes. But it lacks a human heart.

We want to see the man in the arena. We want to see what he can accomplish. It hints at what we may accomplish. In the best of feats, it gives glory to what God has accomplished and continues to give Him glory through our human endeavors.

Why do we like playing sports so much? We want to see who will win. We compete against other humans, matching our skill, strength and speed to their. We even like watching other people do this. Would we equally enjoy watching robots on the field kicking a ball around? Generally, no.

Seeking for humanity

So much of modern adventure cinema feels empty because the action is so over the top that it's lost its humanity. The human is lost in the technological pyrotechnics. A human isn't doing those things, and it's obvious. That's exactly why we feel dis-engaged with it. Those early years of CGI have now become so dominant that we're unimpressed and uninspired most of the time.

There are some exceptions. Why do some like watching Mission Impossible? There are many explosions and stunts, as in similar films, but Tom Cruise is famous for doing his own -- even admidst stunt men, even admidst CGI. Therefore, we are more invested. We want to see if he can do it. We internally say to ourselves, "A human did this". Maybe not all. I can't see the wire or the parachute or what was edited out. But I believe he was involved in a real, flesh and blood way.

Have you heard electronic music? For years, I have loved listening to Mannheim Steamroller. Some people I knew didn't understand why I liked it. They thought all the music was produced by a computer program, thus they were disinterested. Yes, this was suddenly concerning to me too. I didn't want my favorite music group to be compiling music in a computer program. So I looked into it a bit more. I watched some recordings and saw players for the electronic instruments, even a whole orchestra.

I learned that there are some computer-generated sounds, yes. This makes it clearer why I can't seem to play the repeated 32nd notes fast enough with my fingers in The Cricket. These are fine for accompanying the human players, but these computer-controlled parts are decidedly the least interesting parts, precisely because they're not human endeavors. If they were human-sourced, the feat would be much more interesting.

Still, how'd they do that?

I still want to behold incredible human endeavors. I want to hold my breath to see if the musician can makes through the difficult passages. I want to exalt with the painter who unveils her piece after many hours of dedication. I want to puzzle over how elegantly-tight a programmer designed a codebase. I want to exhale in wonder at new, impressive human creations.

AI itself has caused me to exhale many times -- yes, sometimes even in wonder. It's amazing by itself. I have respect for the researchers and designers and programemrs and scientists that have made such things. (I possess as less-impressed wonder at reports that these same creators really don't know how the things work, hehe. Likewise, I have less respect for the businessmen, marketers and product owners who insist that every field of human endeavor should tolerate, then embrace, then celebrate an AI-first way of doing things.)

If the common mode of human creation becomes iterating prompts into text boxes, then what is created will be decidedly less impressive, even if it's useful. I, for one, will avoid that.

I'm still rooting for the humans, including myself. I want to see what they make and wonder, "How'd they do that!"